Act 2, Scene 1B

BRITISH DANCING GIRL:
I must have been hysterical
But, you know, when they'd got us all
Sitting on red-hot folding chairs
There was still one of the old dears
Below us on the deck. I could
See every freckle on his head
It was like school; I bit my lip
And tried ever so hard to keep
From looking at him. Then, guess what?
I saw a lighted cigarette
Approaching at foot-level. Bliss
Omar, who was extremely nice
Kept us in ciggies the whole time
We'd all had lunch before we came
On deck. Or breakfast. Sandwiches
Anyway. First a great big piece
Of meat, and then a little bread
Buttered, but not on the right side
They all were more or less like that
In some there wasn't any meat
Or cheese, or anything. It was
Just absolutely ludicrous
And then later when Omar left
And Rambo came, nobody laughed
He slapped a few people around
A bit, and shouted that he'd send
Us all to hell, and told us why
In rotten English. Actually
Men like that aren't ever up
To much. You watch out for the type
Who looks as if he wouldn't fight
If he were paid. Now, I'd have bet
Omar would do for at least one
Passenger. An American
How do I put it? They were sure
They had their rights, but this was war;
Something they failed to comprehend
I did though, and I shut up, and
Looked at the rivets by my feet
You know the story of the Great
Eastern, the ship built by Brunel?
A man was trapped inside the hull
Riveting. That's a joke. I thought
Of that, and knew I'd be all right